What is the treatment for tailbone pain?

A:

Quick Answer

Tailbone pain usually goes away on its own, but a person can find relief by leaning forward when sitting, using a doughnut-shaped pillow when sitting, and applying heat or ice to the area, according to Mayo Clinic. A person can also take over-the-counter pain medication.

Keep Learning

If a person continues to have tailbone pain for a long period, a doctor should be consulted, explains Mayo Clinic. The doctor may perform a rectal exam and may refer the patient to a specialist, such as an orthopedic surgeon. A doctor may also recommend using tests such as magnetic resonance imaging to find out if the person may have a fracture, tumor or degenerative changes.

Physical therapy focusing on the relaxation of the pelvic floor is a possible treatment for chronic tailbone pain, claims Mayo Clinic. Physical therapy may also be used to strengthen the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles. Massaging the muscles of the pelvic floor through the rectum may also be done as a treatment for chronic tailbone pain. Medications, such as injecting a local anesthetic may help to relieve pain in the tailbone for a couple of weeks. If these treatment methods do not work, a type of surgery known as a coccygectomy, or removal of the tailbone, may be performed.